Economy
The latest news, updates and analysis on the economy and how it is affecting the UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Mar- 2023 -24 March
Retail sales rise 1.2% in February
The ONS has reported today (24 March) that retail sales for February have increased by an estimated 1.2%, following a rise of 0.9% in January, despite a fall in sales volumes of 3.5% when compared to the same month last year. In addition, the ONS found that sales volumes fell…
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23 March
BoE raises interest rates to 4.25%
The Bank of England (BoE) has announced that interest rates will be raised by 0.25% to 4.25%, the highest rate in almost 15 years, following an unexpected rise in inflation last month. The move marks the 11th consecutive increase from the BoE and follows the jump in inflation to 10.4%…
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22 March
Inflation unexpectedly jumps to 10.4% amid rising food prices
The UK inflation rate unexpectedly increased to 10.4% in February driven by increased drink and food prices which reached their highest rate in 45 years, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The rise in the CPI annual rate between January and February 2023 came…
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16 March
Retailers welcome budget but ‘missed opportunity’ for rates reform
Retail has welcomed the support for households in the face of the cost of living crisis in the chancellor’s Spring Budget but some have criticised it as a “missed opportunity” for business rates reform. Headline measures announced by the chancellor included an increase in corporation tax to 25% for businesses…
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15 March
Spring Budget: Corporation tax to rise to 25%
Corporation tax is set to rise from 19% to 25% for firms with profits over £250,000, as part of a number of measures announced in chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget. To help offset the corporation tax rise, Hunt also announced a provision of £9bn of “full capital expensing” which for…
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14 March
Retail jobs at lowest four quarter average in over a decade
The number of retail jobs in the UK was down to its lowest average four quarter level in over a decade, according to ONS Labour Market figures. The four quarter average dropped to 3.05 million retail jobs in December 2022, down from 3.08 million in December 2021. The overall number…
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10 March
UK GDP grows by 0.3% in January
Monthly gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased by a narrow 0.3% in January, with a faster recovery than expected, according to the latest figures released by ONS on Friday. The news comes after economists predicted the UK could go into recession, considering that in the three months…
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7 March
UK sales receive Valentine’s Day boost despite inflation
February retail sales have benefited from Valentine’s Day but numbers remain low compared to last year, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey. The analysis, which was monitored by BRC and the consultancy KPMG, shows that UK total retail sales increased by 5.2% in February, against an increase…
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2 March
Shop Price inflation hits 8.4% in February
Shop price inflation reached a record high in February amid warnings that consumers are unlikely to see prices dropping again for months, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Shop Price annual inflation accelerated to 8.4% in February, up from 8.0% in January and well above…
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Feb- 2023 -28 February
PM agrees new Brexit deal with EU for NI
Prime minister Rishi Sunak has agreed a deal with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for new post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland. The Windsor Framework replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol, and aims to deliver free-flowing trade in goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland…
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